IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

. HAND TO HAND IN- THE ARTOIS REGION TERRIFIC SLAUGHTER | ( j Received Jan. 31, 10.40 p.m. J Paris, Jan. 31. ' There has been almost continuous and I terrible hand-to-hand fighting in the | Artois region for 72 hours. The Germans made ten attacks in a week, meeting with only a slight success at Frise. French officers consider that the operations represent the enemy's maximum efforts. The Germans in the north sacrificed nearly a division, and the ground at Neuville was so hotlyv contested that the dead remained unburied, and many •f the enemy's wounded were left to die. S«uth of Lens the *—nones were iakci. and retaken. The Germans iuncr down the line made a gas attack with some success. German infantry stormed the trenches over a front of nearly a mile, fnd met a desperate neience. . '■ The slaughter was terrrac. entire companies of the enemy being mowed down. There was fierce fighting in. the craters, and when grenades were exhausted the antagonists fought with their hands. The French have already recovered jpUch ground. v e i ' i r V HARASSING THE HUNS ■ OFFICIAL REPORT. Received Jan. 81. 9.55 p.m. Paris, Jan. 31. 'A" communique states: We carried out a. destructive fire on the enemy's depots at Sall-au-Mines, south-east of Lens, and the German parks and bivouacs north of Vimy. We also destroyed the enemy works opposite Soupi, north of Aisne, annihilating the garrison. Amsterdam, Jan. 31. , The Germans claim that the prisoners «aptured at.Frise include some English. fIERMAN ATTACK REPULSED, Wellington, Jan. 31, The High Commissioner reports as follows, under date London, January 30, 4.10 p.m.:— The Germans last night attacked the French positions south of the Somms, on the front at Dompicrre. The enemy infantry was twice thrown back on their trenches.by the French curtain of fire and bombardment. ,

PRISONERS CHEERED AT LIEGE. Amsterdam, Jan. 30. The'crowds who were watching British prisoners passing Liege hooted thp German guards and cheered the British and French. The: Germans charged the crowds wijii fixed bayonets and disponed them. BRITISH MINISTERS. ON A VISIT TO FRANCE. Paris, Jan. 30. A commission consisting of Messrs LJpyd George, Bonar Law, General P.obertson. Colonel Ducane, and Messrs Lee and-Macpherson, M'sP., ha 3 arrived to confer with M. Thomas with regard to speeding up the output of munitions and closer co-operation in production.